Employers: Take a Page from the Buffalo Bills

Last Monday, many people witnessed a public workers’ compensation claim occur during the Buffalo Bills versus Cincinnati Bengals NFL Monday Night Football game in Cincinnati, Ohio. During this game, in case you missed it, Damar Hamlin, a 24-year-old safety for the Buffalo Bills, collapsed from cardiac arrest on the field with six minutes left in the first quarter of the game. He was then rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he remains hospitalized and is awake.  

Buffalo Bills Coach Sean McDermott shows what it means to treat your team like a family, not only to talk the talk but to walk the walk. Coach McDermott knew he could not send his team to start warming up to continue playing after what they had witnessed, so he went to the head official, Shawn Smith, and told him they would need a few minutes. The team was on the field, watching as Damar Hamlin received CPR, loaded into an ambulance, and transported to Cincinnati Medical Center. The Buffalo Bills exited the football field to unify in the locker room.  

Coach McDermott removed his players from the fishbowl so they were allowed to collect themselves, process what transpired, and determine their next steps for the evening. Being on display not only for the fans in the stands but also on national television provides an additional stressor. Coach McDermott removed his team so they could process their emotions effectively. As many witnessed on tv, men were crying and distraught watching the paramedics work on their colleagues, teammate, and friend. Is it now time to get back to work? The option was given to the Buffalo Bills to return to the field and continue with the game. The team chose to not return.  

Coach McDermott communicated with Cincinnati Bengals Coach, Zac Taylor, stating: “I need to be at the hospital with Damar. I shouldn’t be coaching this game.” Coach Taylor later shared during a press conference, “So that provides to me all the clarity because there was no – unprecedented is the word that gets thrown around a lot about this situation, because that’s what it is – but at that moment, he really showed that all his focus was on Damar and being there for him and being there for his family, being at the hospital.” And at that moment, everything switched, focusing on the health and well-being of human beings, making this about so much more than a playoff game. 

The entire workers’ compensation industry needs to look at this leadership act. Any employer needs to be aware of this type of leadership as it should be the norm. While the term unprecedented was used, we know what this is if you have been in workers’ compensation. After an employee is injured, the direct leader should immediately ensure the employee is treated with care. The support, compassion, and sheer act of showing up make all the difference. Coach McDermott did precisely that at the moment his employee was injured.  

Employees are our team members, and we should fight for their best care when injured. The follow-through, ensuring someone with the employee post-injury, can change the trajectory of what happens next. Coach McDermott demonstrated what it truly means to be a leader and, how to care about his people, what it means to be human, and he proved to his team how important they are to him and one another. The example recognized across the country showcases the humanity that exists and needs to be prevalent in every organization.  

Last year, a Midwest animal welfare organization employee was bitten by a horse, another very direct “in the course and scope of employment” scenario like Damar Hamlin. This animal welfare employee was instructed to drive to the hospital and let their supervisor know if they would return later that day. Where does the human element come into play? The primary sense of humanity? This leader displayed behavior much differently from the demeanor of Coach McDermott. Yet, the behavior of Coach McDermott is that which should be what every leader does when one of their employees is injured. The employee bit by the horse reported feeling disposable, like their employer "didn’t care." When looking at these two scenarios, what do you think? I bet that employee could not wait to get back to work. (Insert eye roll.) 

Injuries are scary. Having the direct leader involved from the time of the damage is crucial. Having a colleague or leader with the injured worker post-incident is a must. The human body is failing this person because of some unforeseen cause, and to have this occur at work can add stress, fear, and uncertainty. 

Whether you are an adjuster working with an employer contact, an agent working with an employer, or a human resources professional overseeing a workers’ compensation program, you have the influence to help get direct leaders involved with the employee post-injury. Direct leaders are the key to an employee feeling valued and part of a team. The employee’s leader can help the employee navigate the fear of returning to work. The leader’s ongoing communication can affect how the employee feels about returning to work. It takes effort. A text here and there, following up to follow through, and a check-in to see how the PERSON is doing. 

We could all take a lesson from Coach McDermott and how he handled this workers’ compensation injury last Monday night. Here is to hoping the ripple effect takes place and leaders across the board take this as a reminder to show up for your people. It matters.

Share This Article: